Apparatus for submarine geophysical prospecting



Aug. 25, 1942. T. B. PEPPER 3 9 APPARATUS FOR SUBMARINE GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING Original Filed July 17, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l Theodore 6. Pep a er,

T. B. PEPPER Aug. 25, 1-942.

APPARATUS FOR SUBMARINE GEOPHYSICAL rnosrscnne 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 17, 1939 Theodore 5. e Of! e7:

Aug. 25, 1942. T. B. PEPPER 2, 9 01 APPARATUS FOR SUBMARINE GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING Original Filed July 17, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 SHAW 1m Thebd ore 5, Pepper;

Aug. 25, 1942. T. B. PEPPER APPARATUS FOR SUBMARINE GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING wiginal Filed July 17, 19:59

i 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 DAMPING MAGNET PHOTO CELLS 45 777 Theodore .5. P6451762;

INSULJATION a I. L 7

TIME swncn Aug. 25, 1942. T. a. PEPPER 2,294,201

APPARATUS FOR SUBMARINE GEOPHYSICAL PROSYEC'TING Original Filed July 17,- 1939 -s Sheets-Sheet; 5

Theodore 6' Pappar;

Patented Aug. 25, 1942 APPARATUS FOR SUBMARINE GEOPHYSI- CAL PRO SPECTIN G Theodore B. Pepper, Oakmont, Pa., assignor to Gulf Research & Development Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware {Original application Julyu 17, 1939, Serial No. 284,980. Divided and this application April 16, 1941, Serial No. 388,889

6 Claims.

. tion.

Geophysical prospecting procedures in which gravity measurements are utilized have largely been restricted to dry land. It has been a desideratum to be able to conduct explorations in territory covered by shallow seas, as oil is known to occur in the continental shelf of this and other continents. It is not in general feasible to carry out gravity measurements in boats or the like; theinstruments require a solid footing. Attempts have been made to provide expedients for carrying out gravity measurements in shallow seas,

Another object is the provision of such an apparatus including means for restraining movement of the gravimeter with respect to the support, while the support .is being lowered and raised, and arranged for causing movement of the gravimeter to level position prior to carrying etc., involving use of platform or submersible instrument must be operated by remote control.

One object of the present invention is the pro-' vision of an apparatus for making geophysical measurements on the floors of bodies of water, comprising a submersible support arranged to rest firmly on a lake or ocean floor, means for supporting a gravimeter or the like on the support for movement with respect thereto, and means for positively moving the gravimeter to bring it to accurate level position.

Another object is the; provision of such anapparatus including means for actuating said leveling means by remote control from the surface and means for indicating the levelness of the gravimeter at the surface.

Another object is the provision of such an apparatus including means for positively holding the support against movement, on the ocean floor, by differential hydraulic pressure.

out measurements.

These and other objects are achieved by the provision of an apparatus including a submersible support, weighted sufficiently to sink in water, and adapted to support a gravimeter or the like which is mounted so as to be capable of movement with respect to the support. are provided on the support for moving the gravimeter to level position, prior to taking observations. A suitable level-sensitive control is provided so that the gravimeter can be set stationary in true level position for measurement. The leveling means are automatically actuated by the level-sensitive control which arrests the leveling operation when level position is reached. Means are rovided for clamping and unclamping the measuring instrument itself and for performing other functions necessary for making the actual gravity measurement. These means can be telemetric, i. e. operable from the surface, or automatic: self-contained within the submersible support and operating with a suitably delayed action.

In some cases provision is made for actuating the leveling means from the surface, by remote control, in which case the level-sensitive control is arranged to indicate at the surface when the gravimeter reaches level position; this modification being claimed in the acknowledged copending application.

The apparatus .is ordinarily arranged to rest on the ocean bottom, but in apparatus for use in regions where there is considerable Wave action, effective .at the bottom, means are provided for holding the apparatus firmly against the bottom under difierential hydraulic pressure; such means taking the form of a flexible skirt around the bottom of the apparatus and a suction pump within the apparatus for partially ex- Means I hausting the space between the skirt and the ocean floor.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown, more or less diagrammatically, several examples of specific embodiments of apparatus within the purview of the invention. In the-drawings,

Fig. 1 is a general schematic view of the apparatus in position on an ocean floor,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the submersible apparatus showing an embodiment in which the a pair of 45-degree reflecting prisms 99 opposed by a pair of photocells I and IOI interconnected and delivering to galvanometer 9| through a lead 85, as in Fig. 2. These cells are connected similarly to cells 8I and 82 of Fig. 6 and play a similar function. When the pendulum is vertical the galvanometer reads zero. Movement of the pendulum from level causes light to be directed to one cell or the other, with a corresponding plus or minus reading on the galvanometer. A non-magnetic metal damping vane I92 is fitted to the top of the pendulum and moves in the gap of a permanent horseshoe magnet I03, to restrain vibration of the pendulum. Elements 98 to I03 are attached to the housing by suitable supports, omitted from the drawing for the sake of clarity of presentation. Two of the pendulum level-indicating devices are provided in practice, arranged at right angles as in the case of the bubble levels of Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 8, a leakage indicator is provided for the casing 20, comprising an electrode I04 supported by a perforate insulating disk I05 above a small sump I06 in the bottom of casing 20, and connected by a lead I01 with a lamp I08 on the control board (as described below) so that upon collection of bilge water in the sump the light flashes on. The sump capacity should be sufiiciently large so that moisture condensed on the casing walls when the apparatus is lowered into cold water will not set off the signal.

The recording system includes a lamp housing I09 (corresponding to element 92 of the acknowledged Hoyt patent) and a. recording camera IIO which takes the place of th eyepiece I00 of the Hoyt patent gravimeter. Lamp I09 is supplied by leads I I I and I I2 connected to a battery II3 on the control board, through a switch I'I4. Means for clamping and unclamping the gravimeter proper are provided, including a reversible motor I20 driving, through a worm gear I2I, a shaft I23 leading to the clamping mechanism (not shown). Shaft I23 corresponds to shaft I23 of the Hoyt patent. Wires I24 lead from the motor to a reversing switch I25 and a battery I26 on the control board. By manipulating the switch the gravimeter proper is clamped and of slack. The lower few fathoms of line and cable should rest on the ocean bottom. Then the gravimeter housing is leveled by manipulation of motor switches H5 and control motors 56 and 356. Level is indicated by galvanometers 84 and BI. When level is attained, the instrument is unclamped (switch I25) and time is allowed for stable conditions to be reached. The camera continuously records the gravimeter indication. After a suitable lapse of time (a. few minutes) the instrument is clamped (switch I25) and the casing raised to the surface; or the casing can be shifted to a new position without raising it to the surface.

It is sometimes convenient to provide automatic leveling means, embodied in the casing 20,

H6, which so as to simplify operations. Fig. 9 shows one good positive self-leveling arrangement. The gravimeter housing 45 is fitted with two brackets I30 (only one shows in the drawing) having fixed thereto shafts I3I and I32 rotatably mounted in. a gimbal ring I33 which in turn has two shafts I34 and I35 rotatably mounted in a ring I36 similar to ring 49 of Fig. 2. Shaft I32 carries a worm wheel I31 driven through a worm I 4I, a shaft I38 and speed reducer I39, by a reversible motor I40. Shaft I35 has a similar worm wheel I42 driven by worm I43, shaft I44, speed reducer I45 and a reversible motor I46. A pair of conductive pendulums' I41 and I48 are suspended from the gravimeter housing by clock springs I49, for oscillation in the directions of the two axes of the gimbals. Each pendulum opposes a pair of contacts I50 and I5I and I52 and I53, respectively, fixed to the housing. The pendulums are adapted to energize the motors by an electrical circuit including two polarized relays I54 and I55, the coils of which are connected in series with the pendulum supports as shown, by leads I56, I51 and I58. The fixed contacts I59 and I60, I6I and I62, respectively, of the relays are connected to pendulum contacts I50, I5I, I52 and I53, by leads I63, I64, I65 and I66. The armature I61 of relay I54 is connected at I68 to one side of motor I40 and the other side of this motor is connected to lead I51, by a lead I69, and thence to one side of a battery I10, by a lead HI and time switch I8I. The other side of the battery is connected to relay contacts I59 and I6I by leads I12 and I13. Armature I14 of relay I55 is connected to one side of motor I46, by a lead I15, the outer side of the motor being connected by a lead I29 to lead I1I at I16. A second battery I18 is connected to relay contacts I60 and I62, by leads I11, I19 and I80. A time switch I8I is connected between point I16 and batteries I10 and I18 to energize the electrical circuit after a predetermined length of time.

In operation, the apparatus is lowered to the ocean floor. In due course the time switch closes. If the gravimeter housing is off level, as it almost always is, one of or both the pendulums I41 and I48 will be resting against a contact (I50, I5I, I52 and I53). This completes a circuit through the appropriate motor I40 or I46 to drive the housin into level position. For example: assuming pendulum I41 to be resting against contact I50, a circuit is completed through hinge I49, lead I56, the coil of relay I54, lead "I, battery I10, lead I12 and lead I63, thereby energizing the relay coil and moving armature I61 to the left. In this position the armature closes a circuit through motor I40, lead I68, the armature (I61), lead I12, battery I10, lead III and lead I69, thereby causing the motor to swing the housing clockwise. When pendulum I41 is free of contact I50 the motor circuit is broken.

The pendulums are best made as long as convenient, say two feet or longer. A 2-foot pendulum can be made to indicate slightly less than 10 seconds leveling error if the contacts I 50 and I5I are placed'0.00l inch on each side of the pendulum at the level position. It is advisable to provide a dash pot I or equivalent damping means to restrain vibration of the pendulum.

To avoid the possibility of hunting, that is to say successive overshooting of the level position, it is best to have motors I40 and I46 stop abruptly when the level position is reached. This is accomplished by employing a motor with light rotating parts, and a considerable gear reduction.

It is also helpful to have the motors accelerate gradually. This can best be done by employing an interrupter to supply voltage to the motors for only a fraction of the total time. This is better than reducing the applied voltage because motor operation is uncertain when the voltage is reduced too low. Another desirable refinement is to fit gears I42 and I31 rather loosely on their corresponding shafts I35 and I32, for friction drive so that only a fraction of the motor torque is transmittable to the shaft. This force limiting means allows the gravimeter housing to come very close to level position by ordinary gimbal efiect. The shafts simply rotate while the Worm of torque required to bring the apparatus to true level position.

Fig. illustrates a slightly different embodiment of the invention in which the instrument housing is not encased by the submersible support and in which hydraulic means is employed to restrain movement of the instrument with respect to the support during raising and lowering thereof and to level the instrument when the support is at rest on the ocean floor. The instrument housing 45 is mounted on a base I5I of a submersible support, on a ball-headed standard I53 engaging a spherical seat I52 in the housing base. A pair of hydraulic struts is provided along one diameter of the housing, each including a cylinder I54 pivoted at I56 to the gravimeter V housing base, and a piston I51 pivoted to a clevis I55 fixed to the base .of the support. A similar pair of struts is provided along a diameter at right angles to the plane of the drawing; this pair of struts being omitted for the sake of clarity. A gear pump I60 is provided for each pair of struts, and is connected by tubes 159 with the cylinders. An air. reservoir I6I with an air valve I62 for adjustment of the air pressure, forms a compensation means for the varying amounts of liquid in the struts and tubes. pumps are driven by motors I63 and 263 which take the place of motors I46 and I49 in Fig. 9 and which are operated in the same manner, through leads I68 and I69, and I29 and I (of Fig. 9). The tubing and cylinders in practice are filled with oilor other suitable liquid, not shown. The motors, leads, and other working parts are of suitable water-proof construction.

In the embodiment of Fig. 10 the instrument housing 45 is hermetically sealed and the levelindicating mechanism, camera and other associated parts are enclosed within the housing 45. This embodiment has the advantage that the sealed casing associated with the instrument support can be dispensed with, thus providing a complete assemblage of somewhat less weight which can be more readily raised and lowered.

The embodiment of Fig. 10 is well suited to operation in quiet waters.

In some coastal regions there are strong currents due to tidal or other effects, and in underwater surveying apparatus for use in such places, I find it advantageous to provide means for positively holding the submersible casing against the bottom under differential pressure. Referring to The geared the gravimeter chamber. A centrifugal pump 221 driven by a motor 228 is connected through a four-port valve 229 with an conduit 230 opening below base 22I, and a conduit 23! extending through the casing. A check valve 232 is fitted in the pump outlet as shown. The four port valve is operable by gearing 233 and a reversible motor 234 having power supply leads 235 running up through cable 4| (not shown in Fig. 11) to the ship. Motor 228 has leads 236 also extending to the ship.

In operation, when the casing reaches bottom, motor 228 is operated, with valve 229 in the position shown, to exhaust the space enclosed by the rubber skirt whereupon the casing is held very tightly to the bottom under hydrostatic pressure. Check valve 232 holds the suction when the motor is stopped. To release the suction, valve 229 is turned to its other position and motor 228 is operated again.

Fig. 12 shows a simplified apparatus for achieving the same result as in Fig. 11. Pump 22'! has its intake connected directly with the space below skirt 223, by a conduit 238 and discharges through a conduit 239 fitted with a check valve 240 operable by a solenoid 24I having leads 242. The check valve holds the suction while measurements are being made, and is opened when the instrument is to be raised, by energization of the solenoid.

In all the apparatus described, the parts exposed to water are made of material appropriate for such exposure, such as bronze, painted steel or stainless steel. The apparatus is useful with other gravity measuring instruments besides gravimeters, e. g. torsion balances.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for submarine geophysical prospecting comprising in combination a casing adapted to rest stationary on the floor of bodies of water, a geophysical instrument in said casin, mounting means for the instrument so constituted as to permit tilting of the instrument with respect to the casing ,through an angular range adequate to permit leveling the instrument, level-responsive means in fixed relation to the instrument responsive to departure of the instrument from level in at least two angularly different planes, at least two power-operated Fig. 11, the submersible casing 220 is provided with a flaring base 22I having short feet 222, and a rubber apron or skirt 223 is provided around the bases as shown, to act as an enormous suction cup or sucker. Weights 224 hold the apron against the bottom 244. Casing 220 has a bulkhead 225 defining a lower space 226 separate from instrument-tilting means within the casing adapted on actuation thereof to tilt the instrument toward level in at least two angularly different planes, at least two control means each associated with said power-operated tilting means and with said level-responsive means and so constituted as to cause operation of the tilting means upon departure of the level-responsive means from level in any of the planes to the level in which it responds, and to render the tilting means inoperative on attainment of level in all planes.

2. An apparatus for submarine geophysical prospecting comprising in combination a casing, a geophysical instrument supported within said casing above the center of gravity of the instrument in such a manner as to permit the instrument to move to an approximately level position under the influence of gravity, driven means adapted to move said instrument on said support, driving means in frictional engagement with said driven means and so adjusted that the friction is overcome by the weight 'of the instrument when substantially oil level and power means for operating said driving means to accurately level the instrument.

3. An apparatus for submarine geophysical prospecting comprising in combination a casing adapted to rest stationary on the floor of bodies of water, a geophysical instrument located within said casing, at least two power-operated tilting means within the casing operating in at least two angularly-displaced planes and adapted on actuation thereof to tilt the instrument toward level, level-responsive means in fixed relation to the instrument responsive to departure of,the instrument from level in at least two different angularly-displaced planes, and electrical control circuit means between the level-responsive means and the plurality of'power-operatecl tilting means, so constituted as to render the tilting means operative upon departure of'the levelresponsive means from level in any of the planes to level in which the level-responsive means responds, and to render the tilting means inoperative on attainment of level in all planes.

4. In a submarine geophysical prospecting apparatus of the type combining a submersible casing, a geophysical instrument in said casing, and support means effectual to pivot the instrument in the casing above the center-of gravity of the instrument to allow level adjustment of the instrument to approximately level position by gravity efi'ect: the improvement comprising electrical power means in the casing, 'a drive connection between the power means and the support means, for moving the instrument into correct level position, anda slippage-providing means in said connection, capable of transferring only a limited amount of torque between the power means and the-support means, whereby said leveling of the instrument to approximate position by gravity is permitted.

5. Apparatus for submarine geophysical prospecting comprising in combination a supporting container adapted to rest stationary on the floor of bodies of water, a geophysical instrument within the container, adjustable means for supporting the instrument at various inclinations in the container, driving means adapted on operation to movei the instrument-supporting means with respect to the container, to level the instrument, electrical level responsive means in fixed relation to the instrument, electrical power means connected to the driving means for operation thereof, control means for said power means; and an operative connection between the power control means and the level responsive means whereby on departure of the instrument from level the power means is operated to urge the instrument supporting means toward level; and when level is attained such movement is arrested.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the electrical control means includes a switch controlling the electrical power means, and an operating connection between the switch and the levelresponsive means, such that upon departure of the instrument supporting meansfrom level position the switch is closed and the power means operate to move said supporting means toward level position, and upon attainment of level position the switch is opened.

THEODORE B. PEPPER. 

